President’s Newsletter

Friday, August 23, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the new academic year! This first week has offered the opportunity for formal meetings and events such as the Campus Leadership Summit, Faculty and Staff Convocation, the Provost’s Welcome Back event, and the dedication of the new Fannie Barrier Williams bust, created by the artist Olivia Kim, in the FBW building. I was pleased to participate in several less formal gatherings, as well. I had the opportunity to meet with all new faculty and librarians through a CELT roundtable, and to welcome all new faculty and staff to the presidential residence, Burlingame House, for a welcome event on Tuesday afternoon. On Thursday afternoon I was able to host our international faculty, staff and students at Burlingame House to welcome them to campus, and for the students, to ensure that they had an opportunity to sign the Better Community Statement and receive the challenge coin that signifies their acceptance of our community norms.

The Campus Leadership Summit focused on crucial conversations, deliberative dialogues, and divisional plans for helping our students navigate a complex political landscape. Cabinet continued this work on Wednesday as we finalized plans for implementing new SUNY protocols and policies around posting, assemblies, freedom of speech, camping, visitors to campus, and student identification cards. As noted at the summit and at faculty and staff convocation, we are making plans for a complex year, and everyone will have a role to play in helping our students navigate a contentious world.

Today I have been enjoying meeting the new graduate assistants, teaching assistants, and Graduate Diversity Fellows, as well as helping new students move into their residence halls—thank you to everyone who works so hard to make move-in go smoothly.

I’m on a number of external boards, and I had the opportunity to attend meetings with the United Way leadership and with Willow Domestic Violence Center leadership this week, as well as lead a committee for Rochester Rotary. I also sit on the SUNY Future of Healthcare Workforce Task Force, and we had our first meeting of the academic year.

As we wrap up the first week of the semester, I look forward to Sunday’s Academic Convocation, and hope to see many of you there.